<
https://theconversation.com/anti-environmentalism-is-on-the-rise-but-its-full-of-contradictions-256911>
"Anti-environmentalism is gaining ground. Attacks on the net zero goal and
hostility to conservation measures and anti-pollution targets are becoming more
common. And, as recent election results have shown, these tactics are reshaping
politics in Britain and across the west.
Anti-environmentalism is a rejection of both environmental initiatives and
activism. But despite its sudden rise and bold rhetoric, it is built on shaky
foundations. The messages it offers are often contradictory and row against the
tide of everyday experience.
Take the US president, Donald Trump. He dismantled many environmental
protections in his last term of office, and is now removing those that are left
– including support for research that even mentions the word climate. Yet he
told a rally in Wisconsin in 2024: “I’m an environmentalist. I want clean air
and clean water. Really clean water. Really clean air.”
Some of the contradictions of anti-environmentalism reflect its departure from
traditional conservatism. Although routinely identified as “conservative”, the
populist anti-green politics of Republicans in the US and Reform in the UK,
along with the AfD in Germany and National Rally in France, represent a radical
challenge to the ideals of continuity and conservation that were once at the
heart of conservatism.
The Conservative Environment Network is an organisation which pitches itself as
an “independent forum for conservatives in the UK and around the world who
support net zero, nature restoration and resource security”. Much of this
network’s work involves reminding people that important environmental
protections, from America’s national parks to controls on pollution and climate
change in Britain and elsewhere, were introduced by conservatives.
But few on the right appear to be listening. A populist tide is washing this
conservative tradition away, despite the fact that support for environmental
protection remains very popular."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
